Murder triggers violence, 30 houses burnt

Ranchi, June 21 (IANS) At least 30 houses and 10 bikes were set afire and a number of houses looted in violence that erupted after a land broker was murdered on the outskirts of Jharkhand capital Ranchi, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, the trouble erupted after Nasim Ansari, a land broker and resident of Newari village, 20 km from Ranchi, was hacked to death on Monday night.

The alleged killer, identified as Mohammad Zakir, reportedly called Ansari for a meeting to settle a land dispute. When Ansari was seated, he was allegedly attacked by a sharp weapon and hacked to death.

Ansari’s supporters later attacked people with weapons. Yet unidentified people set fire to several houses and two-wheelers and some of them indulged in looting.

The local residents also clashed with the police in which one police official sustained head injuries.

Several media photographers were also attacked and the cameras of two photographers were damaged.

Fire fighting vehicles were initially not allowed to enter the village to douse the fire but eventually fire fighters managed to enter after the blaze gained in intensity.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area ans officials described the situation as “tense but under control”.